Thunder's Russell Westrook out until after All-Star Break

Saturday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had arthroscopic knee surgery Friday and will be sidelined until after the All-Star break.

That means Westbrook will miss a minimum of 27 games.

General manager Sam Presti said in a news release that Westbrook has been playing pain-free, but "recently had experienced increased swelling" in his right knee.

"After consultation and consideration by his surgeon in Los Angeles, a plan was established to monitor the swelling that included a series of scheduled MRIs," Presti said in the release. "On the most recent MRI it was determined by the surgeon that there was an area of concern that had not previously existed, nor was detectable in the previous procedures, and it was necessary to evaluate Russell further.

"The consulting physician determined that arthroscopic surgery was necessary to address the swelling that was taking place."

The Thunder were in Charlotte on Friday night to play the Bobcats.

Westbrook's knee problems began in April when he tore his meniscus in the second game of the Western Conference playoffs, sidelining him for the remainder of the postseason and all but ending Oklahoma City's chance to get to the NBA finals.

He had a second arthroscopic surgery as the Thunder were preparing for training camp after a loose stitch caused some inflammation in the knee. However, he only missed two regular-season games before returning to action.

Oklahoma City is 21-3 with Westbrook in the starting lineup this season.

The five-year NBA player is averaging 21.3 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Thunder, who entered the game at 23-5 and a half-game behind the first-place Portland Trail Blazers in the Northwest Division.

Reggie Jackson, who is averaging 12.5 points, is expected to replace Westbrook in the starting lineup.

Westbrook averaged 24.6 points over the last five games and Oklahoma City has won 10 of its last 11 games.

In his last game on Christmas, Westbrook didn't look like a player who was in pain, finishing with triple-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 123-94 rout of the New York Knicks.

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